Topic: Puzzle #93 - Solved! IFA F9

[Otto Puzzell]

Know what it is?

Please, respond below and let us know what make and model you think you see here.


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[SeaLion]

It's the german DKW Meisterklasse, with a 684 cm³ two-stroke twin. Front wheel drive. 23 bhp and a top speed of 60 mph. 65,890 cars of this model was produced 1950-1954.

[Otto Puzzell]

No.

[SeaLion]

Yes it is!


DKW Meisterklasse/Sonderklasse/3=6

In 1953 the DKW (F89) Meisterklasse got a new 896 cm³ three-sylinder engine and changed name to DKW Sonderklasse which in 1955 became the DKW 3=6 (DKW meant that the 3-sylinder engine was as smooth running as a 6, hence the name 3=6). The only outer difference between a postwar Meisterklasse and the Sonderklasse/3=6 was ... none.

In 1958 the same body got a new wraparound windshield and fronthinged doors. The engine was bored out to 980 cm³ and the new car was called DKW 1000, later known as the Auto Union 1000.

The DKW Meisterklasse/Sonderklasse was called IFA F9 in some markets, produced at a different factory, but they looked the same except the grille (which isn't visible in your NTC image):


DKW Meisterklasse


IFA F9

The IFA F9 was in 1956 rebodied and renamed to Wartburg. The DKWs was also produced in Brazil by DKW-Vemag.

[Otto Puzzell]

No, it isn't.

But you named the correct car in your retort.   

The IFA F9 was based on development work carried out before the war by DKW. Further development work by the East Germans ironed out a number of faults in the original design. In the west a visually similar DKW model appeared based on the same pre war development, but was much closer to the original design than the IFA F9.

The IF F9 came to market one year before the DKW. It was built by Sachsenring (of Trabant fame) from 1949 to 1953.